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Foiled NAIA-3 bombing suspects warn of martial law

By Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News

Posted at 09/04/2014 1:01 AM

MANILA - The three suspects in the foiled bombing of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), Grandeur Pepito Guerrero, Emmanuel San Pedro, and Sonny Yohanon, formally informed the Department of Justice (DOJ) that they are recalling the waiver of detention which they signed on Tuesday.

In a four-page joint counter-affidavit, Guerrero and company urged the DOJ to junk the charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

They claimed they were unaware of the explosive contents of the van, and that a certain Norberto Paranga borrowed the vehicle and was the one who drove the vehicle to the NAIA-3 parking.

They claimed Paranga was able to escape the operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), but before he escaped, Paranga allegedly "sent a message to Guerrero to get the car from NAIA parking lot."

The group said there is no forensic examination and findings that the items seized from the vans contained explosives.

They also lamented the "unjust trial and conviction by publicity," saying they have been convicted by tri-media of terrorism and destabilization.

They also claimed that the incident, coupled with other incidents such as the alleged sabotage of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Philippine National Railways (PNR) trains, the looming Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) protest against the impending arrest of Nur Misuari, and "imminent people power against the killing of impeachment complaints" are ingredients for martial law.

"We believe martial law will be the entry point for Charter change and presidential term extension earnestly pushed by Aquino fanatics allegedly led by Cong. Egay Erice which we do not believe.

"We believe a signature campaign to extend Pres. Aquino's term is better than kenkoy script of terrorism and destabilization to justify martial law and concomitant extension of Pres. Aquino's term," the counter-affidavit read.